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~Chapter 88~
The Holy Knights’ captain’s office was a grand place, especially with its walls decorated with shields, swords, and portraits of past captains.
Riden smiled faintly at the portraits that seemed to stare at her, then glanced at Ethan, who was watching her just as intently.
‘Why does it feel like I reset every time I meet this man?’
By now, she should feel comfortable around him—but whenever she was about to, time apart would reset that comfort again.
She looked away from him and simply held out the gift box.
“The Count—”
“Is it a wedding gift?”
“???”
“You’ve prepared faster than I thought.”
Riden froze, speechless, watching Ethan boldly unwrap the gift in front of her.
Inside was a single tulip, looking crushed and battered—probably plucked from the bouquet Marik had given her earlier.
It was clearly a hastily prepared excuse for a “gift.”
Riden, for the first time since meeting Marik, made a face showing she was tired of his antics.
She knew his intent, but still—
‘You’ve gone too far.’
Ethan picked up the tulip, now damaged after rolling around in the box all day.
“I really don’t know why you suddenly brought up a wedding gift, but it’s not. The Count said it was something you had to get today, so I brought it.”
“I was secretly a little surprised… but I’m glad it’s not a wedding gift.”
“It’s not, and nothing I give you will ever be a wedding gift.”
Ethan looked at her curiously.
“Why pretend not to know? I proposed, didn’t I?”
“Wha—”
“Marry me.”
“What?”
“Either way, let’s get married. You know how much effort the Count and Countess McCreary have put into making this happen. Are you going to betray your parents’ expectations?”
“That time at the windmill?”
“Yeah, at the windmill.”
Riden was stunned at his shamelessness.
“That wasn’t—”
“It was a proposal.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“A proposal. Asking for marriage. Didn’t I clearly ask you to marry me?”
“….”
“I was serious.”
“….”
“I want you by my side.”
Riden’s mouth opened and closed without sound.
Back then, she’d been hungover, exhausted from trying to heal him, and she hadn’t thought deeply about it—she’d brushed it off. She hadn’t expected him to bring it up so directly again.
Her heart pounded from the shock.
But—
“I’ll give you everything you need.”
“….”
“I like you.”
His proposal felt no different from saying he needed her because she was his “tranquilizer.”
She already knew this… but seeing his unashamed face still made it feel new.
Ethan fetched a small chair, placed it before her, and sat down, studying her like she was something unusual.
‘This is going to be difficult.’
“Why?”
‘Challenging.’
“….”
He thought—she wasn’t pretending not to feel something… she just didn’t.
When he realized his feelings for her, he’d hoped something had stirred in her too, but her eyes only looked annoyed, like he was some spectacle.
If she weren’t in front of him, he would’ve pounded his chest in frustration.
There was nothing for it but to keep knocking until she opened her heart.
Just as Riden was about to speak, Ethan asked in a drained tone,
“You didn’t come to see me, so what’s your business in the palace?”
“Her Majesty the Empress summoned me. About the chaperone.”
Ethan remembered his mother mentioning Riden’s chaperone and the Empress together.
He nodded in understanding—then suddenly pulled her hand toward him, remembering the wound he’d left on her arm.
His touch was careful, concerned.
“How’s the injury?”
Riden jumped slightly at the sudden gesture.
“Are you getting proper treatment?”
The Duchess had scolded that ointment alone wasn’t enough, so lately, a royal priest had been visiting the McCreary estate daily.
Priests existed in this world, capable of using holy power to heal. The effect wasn’t overwhelming, and holy power users were rare, but still effective.
“Yes. Thanks to your concern, it’s almost healed. They said there won’t even be a scar.”
Ethan’s gaze lingered on the wound under her sleeve.
“Can I see it?”
“My injury?”
“Yes.”
He looked genuinely regretful.
‘It’s really fine.’
Riden rolled up her sleeve to reassure him.
“See? Almost healed, right?”
“….”
He didn’t answer, just stared at the scar he’d made.
He stared so intently she felt itchy.
‘It won’t heal from looking—stop, it’s embarrassing!’
Finally, he looked up and murmured softly,
“I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“….”
“Really sorry.”
“….”
“Next time, tie me up. I’ll stay still.”
At the word “tie,” the memory of that chaotic day flashed in her mind, making her cheeks flush.
She had something to ask him today, but not after that.
“It’s really fine! I was only going to complain if it scarred, but since it won’t, just don’t worry about it.”
“….”
“So please stop apologizing. And stop making absurd marriage proposals—we already tore up that contract.”
She lowered her sleeve with an embarrassed expression.
But Ethan looked even more serious than before.
“What did I say you need for marriage?”
Riden bit her lip.
“Do you still think I have no choice?”
He still acted like she had no option but to marry him.
“Yes.”
“Wow. I’m so speechless I can’t even laugh.”
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious.”
Lowering his gaze, Ethan said,
“I told you before—you have to stand on the illusion that love will last forever.”
“….”
He dragged his chair closer until their knees almost touched.
“…Why are you doing this?”
“Why? Hey, Lady Riden McCreary.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you feel like we’re destined?”
“…What?”
She hesitated, unsure if it was a joke—but his expression was serious.
“The love you talk about changes, but our relationship doesn’t. We’re destined.”
Lines like We’re destined sounded outdated, even in movies, making it feel unreal.
While she fidgeted, he continued,
“I’ll need you forever. I don’t need an illusion of eternal love—because I really will need you until I die.”
“….”
“That’s not an illusion. We’re tied by destiny, and that’s more reliable than love.”
“….”
“Like being born into a family—it’s a solid bond.”
“Right. Destiny.”
Riden felt oddly sad.
A bond like family, tied by destiny—that was what she had always longed for.
In her past life, she endured misery just to belong to that “solid bond.”
He wasn’t wrong. The author had made Riden and Ethan’s relationship one of destiny.
But the author did it to show that true love was the one that surpassed destiny.
So while it was a convincing bond, it was one easily broken if a greater destiny—the heroine—appeared.
Ethan didn’t know that.
“It’s very tempting to hear you say that.”
“Yes.”
His hand tightened slightly in anticipation.
“But still, no.”
His eyes, which had been bright with hope, dimmed with disappointment.
